Cherrard given time by Nice

OGC Nice have handed striker Abdelmalek Cherrad a lifeline by reversing a decision to cancel his contract.

Time to decide 
The Ligue 1 club have instead agreed to suspend the Algerian until he decides whether or not he intends to continue his career with them. Last week Nice sacked Cherrad, who has played 19 games this season, after the 23-year-old disappeared with his wife and newborn daughter. The player, who has a deal until 2007, has since sent a message saying that he is safe.

Helsinborgs sack Resende 
Another player to have trouble with his club, Claudinei Resende, has been sacked by Helsingborgs IF after the Brazilian midfield player left Sweden without permission. The 25-year-old joined Helsingborgs from Brazilian side FC America in September and both clubs own 50 per cent of the player, with the Swedish club holding his registration.

Rosenkvist injury 
Helsingborg's rivals IFK Göteborg have been hit by the news that in-form striker Tomas Rosenkvist will be out of action for about three weeks after rupturing a thigh muscle in the 2-1 derby victory against Örgryte IS.  Rosenkvist, who scored a hat-trick in last week's cup game against minnows Degerfors IF, is not expected to return to action until the Allsvenskan resumes from its break for UEFA EURO 2004™.

Todd frozen out
Central defender Andy Todd is believed to be leaving Blackburn Rovers FC after falling out with manager Graeme Souness over his omission from the side that played Leeds United AFC on 10 April. The 29-year-old has played 21 games for Rovers this season, but has been frozen out of the side since the 2-1 defeat by Leeds.

Hoekstra calls time
A long-term ankle problem has brought the curtain down on the career of Stoke City FC's former Dutch international Peter Hoekstra. The 31-year-old left-winger, who played for the Netherlands at the 1996 UEFA European Championship and previously appeared for PSV Eindhoven, AFC Ajax, SD Compostela and FC Groningen, will retire at the end of the season.